City Recognition of International Women in Engineering Day June 23

City Recognition of International Women in Engineering Day June 23

Join us in celebrating International Women in Engineering Day on June 23. International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated worldwide while focusing on women working in engineering. Women engineers are shaping the world and making significant contributions to improving our lives. This global celebration of women engineers was first launched in the UK by the Women's Engineering Society. Each year, the celebration has grown until it reached all ends of the globe. This day hopes to encourage young girls to get involved in STEM careers, like engineering.

The City of Santa Barbara Public Works Department's Engineering Division supports the entire City, including the airport, the waterfront, and all the streets, bridges, traffic signals, creeks, water, and sewer infrastructure. Engineering is more than a celebration of a profession-it's a movement to show young people that engineering is creative, collaborative, and most importantly, open to everyone. The City hopes to raise awareness of engineering occupations and opportunities for public service for all.

Meet some of the women engineers at the City who lead, design, and oversee the City we live in!

Ashleigh Sizoo, P.E., City Engineer

• The City has reached a significant milestone in its 175-year history with the appointment of Ashleigh Sizoo, P.E., the City's first woman City Engineer! Ashleigh was appointed as City Engineer in September 2025.

  As City Engineer, Ashleigh oversees the Engineering Division of Public Works in delivering a wide range of critical infrastructure projects, guiding teams responsible for the planning, design, and construction of Capital Improvement Projects across departments that serve our community every day. From the Airport to the Waterfront and all the streets, bridges, traffic signals, creeks, water and sewer infrastructure in between, the Engineering team works on it all.

  "Our City's infrastructure is the backbone of our community, and I'm honored to lead an amazing team entrusted with such meaningful work," said Ashleigh. "It's incredibly rewarding to step into this role, and I'm especially humbled to lead the way for future women to pursue leadership positions in engineering. With only approximately 15-20% of practicing engineers across the nation being women, I'm passionate about encouraging more young women to pursue engineering and supporting women in reaching their career goals."

  After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (go Mustangs!) with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Ashleigh worked for a private civil and traffic engineering firm in Gilroy for over two years before moving to Santa Barbara. Ashleigh started her career at the City in 2008 as a Project Engineer working on streets and transportation design projects.
  Some of the major projects that Ashleigh personally managed are the Jake Boysel Multipurpose Pathway, State Route 225 Relinquishment, Las Positas/Cliff Roundabout, and Las Positas & Modoc Roads Multiuse Path. She is a licensed Professional Engineer and has held multiple roles throughout her more than 17 years with the City. Outside of work, Ashleigh enjoys nature photography, seeing live music, and our beautiful coastline.

  Caitlin Knauss, Acting Supervising Engineer
  

  Caitlin walking through the 3.7 mile long Mission Tunnel

  Caitlin is a Project Engineer II and is currently acting as a Supervising Engineer for Water Resources Engineering. She's been with the City for just over seven years after starting out as an Engineering Tech in 2018. She manages the research, planning, permitting, and design of Water Resources infrastructure projects. Most of her workload is supporting Wastewater Collections and Treatment with capital projects, but has also been involved in various projects supporting Gibraltar Dam. Most of the projects that she manages involve sewer main repairs and rehabilitation, process improvements at the El Estero Water Resource Center, and coordination with other City projects in design or planned private developments. She studied chemical engineering at UC Davis, and enjoys outrigger canoeing and riding her bike outside of work.
  *Check out this 2019 video from City TV on the history of the tunnel and the annual inspections.

  Ashley Lopez, Project Engineer II
  

  With 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Ashley began her career building a strong foundation in project management and operational leadership. Ashley leads capital improvement, maintenance, and emergency response projects, overseeing budgets, schedules, risk mitigation, and critical decision-making processes. She also serves as a liaison between the Engineering Department and internal City stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and successful project delivery.

Click the links below to explore completed and ongoing City engineering projects:

• Vic Trace Reservoir Project (ongoing)
  This multi-year Project will design and construct two new buried reservoirs to meet modern standards and to improve serviceability, enhance resiliency, and strengthen the City's ability to deliver water to the community. Once the Project is complete, the site will have enhanced security, new fire and drought-resistant landscaping, as well as improved site drainage and stormwater capture.

  Vic Trace Reservoir -Aerial View

• Desal Pump Stabilization Project (completed)
  After years of planning, the Desal Pump Platform Stabilization Project was completed in just four weeks in fall 2025, strengthening the City's offshore intake structures that supply ocean water to the Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant. Find out more about this Project that included scuba divers, 450 tons of rock, and more!

• Milpas Street Crosswalk Safety and Sidewalk Widening Project (in final design)
  The Milpas Street Crosswalk Safety and Sidewalk Widening Project (Project) is in final design. We appreciate the community members who provided design feedback over the past several years. Please visit the Project website to view the plans and renderings, prior community outreach meeting recordings, and announcements. In late summer 2026, the City plans to publicly advertise the Project for construction. Construction is anticipated to begin in winter 2026.

  Find out more about the City's Engineering Division.